A PENSIONER who lived out an unassuming retirement in a terraced street was a former secret agent who kept a cache of weapons under the stairs.

Eileen Burgoyne worked for the intelligence services after the Second World War

Incredible details of Eileen Burgoyne's job as a spy only emerged when builders discovered the deadly arsenal during renovations.

Her family, who knew nothing of her exploits until recently, have been sent parcels of personal effects which point to a crucial role in the secret service.

Neighbours always thought she was a "shy and retiring" spinster.

Her family is now trying to piece together a life spent operating in the shadows across Germany, Spain, Gibraltar and parts of Africa.

Mrs Burgoyne, who lived in a London suburb for more than 20 years until her death aged 98 last year, worked for the intelligence services immediately after the Second World War.

She was posted overseas for the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre, which operated interrogation centres around the world.

Among the weapons discovered at her home in Twickenham, west London - which prompted police to evacuate the street - was a Sten sub-machine gun in full working order.

A remarkable haul of correspondence includes letters headed On His Majesty's Service and telegrams from the War Office.

There are also pictures of Hamburg devastated by Allied bombs, an invitation to a German hotel from a Lieutenant Colonel from 1945, pay-slips from the Woman's Royal Army Corps and freedom passes from the Danish Allied Committee.

What is left of Mrs Burgoyne's personal files reveal she had two periods of service, 1945-47 and 1950-53, and that she was a talented linguist, having studied French and Spanish at college in Manchester.

CASCADE

Machine gun found at her home

We knew nothing of her existence but it seems she has had a really interesting life. If you piece together the big world events and conflicts, she is always there. It is amazing what she's been up to.

Mrs Burgoyne's cousin, Georgina Wood

Other priceless artefacts sent to family members, who have been traced by probate officials, include an invitation to Kaiserhof Hotel in Bad Pyrmont, a short drive from the notorious Bad Nenndorf camp where Nazi prisoners were interrogated.

The centre's remit was later expanded to include people suspected of spying for the Soviet Union, but was closed in 1947 amid accusations of detainees being mistreated.

Mrs Burgoyne's cousin Georgina Wood, 67, said: "We knew nothing of her existence but it seems she has had a really interesting life.

"If you piece together the big world events and conflicts, she is always there. It is amazing what she's been up to.

"She was in Germany in 1945. Not many people, especially women, would be going over to Germany for a night out at that time."

Ian Cobain, who investigated alleged torture in centres including Bad Nenndorf, said Ms Burgoyne may have worked as a translator during the interrogation of prisoners.

He said: "Interrogations would have been seen as a man's job but they sometimes had women in the room typing up what was said.

"There was a lot of administration that would have needed to be done but if she was a linguist then she may well have been a translator."